Background: Tuberculosis (TB) incidence in the U.S.-Mexico border region exceeds both countries’ national rates. The four U.S. states bordering Mexico account for nearly 40% of total U.S. TB cases. TB treatment monitoring using directly observed therapy (DOT) is a globally-accepted practice; however, it is resource intensive for providers and patients.

Aims: To determine whether Video DOT (VDOT)—a process whereby patients record themselves taking their medication by mobile phone and sending the videos to their TB care provider for observation—could be used to remotely monitor TB treatment adherence.

Methods: We conducted five focus groups with TB patients and four with TB care providers in San Diego, California, U.S. and Tijuana, B.C., Mexico.

Results: VDOT consistently received broad support: U.S. patients valued greater autonomy and Mexican patients valued improved privacy. Groups agreed technology would not be a barrier, but emphasized need for adequate patient training.

Conclusion: Patients and providers in both countries found VDOT conceptually feasible and acceptable.

Background: As wearable sensors/devices become increasingly popular to promote physical activity (PA), research is needed to examine how and which components of these devices people use to increase their PA levels.

Aims: (1) To assess usability and level of engagement with the Fitbit One and daily SMS-based prompts in a 6-week PA intervention, and (2) to examine whether use/ level of engagement with specific intervention components were associated with PA change.

Methods: Data were analyzed from a randomized controlled trial that compared (1) a wearable sensor/ device (Fitbit One) plus SMS-based PA prompts, and (2) Fitbit One only, among overweight/obese adults (N=67). We calculated average scores from Likert-type response items that assessed usability and level of engagement with device features (e.g., tracker, website, mobile app, and SMS-based prompts), and assessed whether such factors were associated with change in steps/day (using Actigraph GT3X+).

Results: Participants reported the Fitbit One was easy to use and the tracker helped to be more active. Those who used the Fitbit mobile app (36%) vs. those who did not (64%) had an increase in steps at 6-week follow-up, even after adjusting for previous web/app use: +545 steps/ day (SE=265) vs. −28 steps/ day (SE=242) (p=.04).

Conclusions: Level of engagement with the Fitbit One, particularly the mobile app, was associated with increased steps. Mobile apps can instantly display summaries of PA performance and could optimize self-regulation to activate change. More research is needed to determine whether such modalities might be cost-effective in future intervention research and practice.

Background: Ease of use, proximity to the user and various health maintenance applications enable mobile tablet devices to improve patient self-management. With mobile phones becoming prevalent, various mobile health (mHealth) programs have been devised, to improve patient care and strengthen healthcare systems.

Aims: This study explored how mHealth programs can be developed for type 2 diabetes patients through a co-design participatory workshop between practitioners and researchers. The aim was to design a mHealth pilot program from the input.

Methods: A co-design workshop was conducted with 15 participants, including general practitioners, specialists, nurses and a multidisciplinary research team. Participants generated 31 statements in response to a trigger question and engaged in a structured discussion. Thematic cluster analysis was conducted on the statements and discussions.

Results: Through the analysis, patients’ self-management and health system integration emerged as the main topics. Further analysis revealed that there were two distinct areas of patient self-management; ‘compelled’ and ‘empowered’.

Conclusion: With the results, a loose-knit mHealth pilot program was developed wherein patients with various levels of conditions and digital skills could be incorporated. In order to encourage sustainable changes, practitioners proposed that mobile devices must be situated in the patients’ everyday settings and that digital training should be provided.

Introduction: Mobile apps are used as an aid in the mental health services in many high income countries. The present study was conducted to assess frequency of mobile phone use amongst patients with mental illness.

Methods: Patients attending psychiatric outpatient department of a public funded tertiary care hospital in India were assessed for use of mobile phone and its possible utility in mental health service delivery using a semi structured questionnaire.

Results: The study had 350 subjects, out of whom 307 (87.7%) reported using mobile phone on a regular basis. Mobile phone was used for phone calls, sending and receiving short text messages (SMS) recreation, and accessing social networking sites. Most of the users agreed that the mobile phone could be used as an aid in mental health service delivery, and expressed willingness to receive educational messages.

Conclusion: Patients with mental illness attending psychiatric outpatient services in India use mobile phones and are willing to use as a treatment aid.